Selector switch mechanism



SELECTOR SWITCH MECHANISM Filed Nov. 25, 1966 INVENTOR RONA/o F.OBERGEFELL AIPLES $RUDD S t ATTORNEK United States Patent 3,430,010SELECTOR SWITCH MECHANISM Charles F. Rudd, Willoughhy Hills, and RonaldF.

Obergefell, Cleveland, Ohio, assignors to Addressograph-MultigraphCorporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 25,1966, Ser. No. 597,092 US. Cl. 200-46 Int. Cl. H01h 43/08, 15/10 4Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Backgr und of the invention Thisinvention relates to printing machines of the kind through whichprinting devices are sequentially passed, and more particularly toselectively controlling operation of one or more mechanisms embodied inthe machine under control of identifying means included on the printingdevices.

The well-known plate printing machine sold under the trademark*Addressograph is one example of such machines. In this machine metalplates carrying classification tabs along one edge, and sometimesemploying other lacunas, are passed through the machine and usuallyselected ones of these plates are caused to print. The plates are notnecessarily of metal, but the most common type of system does employ themetal plate. The tabs are extensions from one edge which are located inone or more of several possible locations, and the tabs are used forimparting a response to a selector mechanism which moves against thetabs and sets up a responsive control signal according to which tabs arepresent and which tabs are absent.

A further refinement of the identification has been accomplished byplacing a plurality of holes in each one of the tabs. The tabs aregenerally provided with four holes for this purpose, with five possiblepositions.

By employing tabs, and holes in each tab, a great many combinations ofsignal possibilities are created. This type of sensing device is quitewell-known internationally, but for specific reference refer to HueberUS. Patent 2,359,857. That patent, in turn, refers to a number ofGollwitzer patents which teach the various combinations of plates andtabs along with various lacunas.

Summary of the invention This invention is an improvement in theenvironment of the selector mechanism operative with plates and machinessimilar to those well-known as discussed above. The known technique ofsignalling by means of pins which sense the presence or absence of holesin various tabs, produces a responsive signal which will allow selectionof particular plates on the basis of a given first condition g a givensecond condition. That is, it will not select A or B and Q. It must be Aor B.

By an electrical system, it is possible to produce a selector bar whichwill enable the selection of the printing devices on the basis of anycombination and/ or situation.

However, a reasonable size printing plate requires a strict limitationin the area in which tabs may be placed for such selection. In order tomake a reasonable possible number of combinations available, sixty holesin 12 tabs has evolved as the minimum number of useful openings. Hence,the placement of electrical switches in a closely compacted arrangementsuch that sixty are available in a longitudinal path of any reasonabledimension becomes an engineering problem. Thus, the invention isembodied in the physical structure which makes possible the compactionof a close cluster of probe rods and an equally effective and closecluster of switch devices.

Normally it would appear that any switch device could be selected fromknown structures and employed for this purpose, but despite the use oflow voltages and currents to avoid electrical spar-king, excessiveflexure of parts can cause fatigue and failure of switch devices builtfor less demanding structures. A modern Addressograph machine will pass7500 printing devices through the machine per hour, and therefore if aparticular tab location appears on even as many as one-half of theprinting devices, any one particular switch may be actuated 3750 cyclesper hour. Such use is expected to be endured every day for monthswithout failure. Mechanical failure will result unless the switchmechanism is carefully designed to accommodate such large numbers ofactuations. This invention provides accommodation for the maximum possible number of actuations. It is provided by a structure limitedphysically to an area which is essentially an extension of the feelerdevice area. The feeler device is a pin used to drop into a hole in thetabs, when a hole is present. Thus, the object of this invention is theprovision of a reliable switch in a restricted longitudinal area of analiquot one-fifth part of the total area of a printing device tab.

In accordance with these and other objects which Will become apparenthereinafter, the best mode contemplated for the present invention isdisclosed in the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a selector mechanism which may beemployed in the mounting position on an address printing machine where amechanical selector is currently used in the prior art;

FIGURE 2 is a greatly enlarged section taken along the line 22 of FIGURE1; and

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of a portion of a printing plate of a well knowntype employing tabs, and holes in the tabs, for classification.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiment The figures of thedrawing illustrate a tab sensing device suitable to illustrate thepreferred embodiment of this invention, which comprises generally acarriage 10 having a path of movement between an advanced and retractposition. Carriage 10 is an elongated structure of molded syntheticresin, and this member is intended to cooperate with a drive apparatuswhich might also properly be referred to as a carriage or drive device.The actual driving device is a well-known structure in the art, andtherefore is not illustrated in this drawing. In the context of thedisclosure, the plastic body will be referred to as the carriage, withthe understanding that this portion 10 locks with and is driven by powerapparatus of the machine with which it cooperates.

Although the invention is involved in a physical structure which enablesa cluster of switches to be placed in a limited area, it is constructedphysically of individual switch elements which can be describedindividually and thus be understood collectively.

A probe rod 12 is a composite structure which is employed to sense theabsence or presence of a hole in a tab, and thus be actuated or remainin its home position. The probe rod 12 is composed of a tab sensing end14 which is tapered to fit into the punched hole of a tab, and a switchend 16 which is provided to actually close the contact of a switchstructure. In the illustrated embodiment, the switch end 16 becomes apart of the switch by bridging the gap between the contacts.

The carriage body has a longitudinal cavity 18 which is closed by meansof a press cap 20. A foot 21 is used to press the printing device fiatupon an anvil in order to avoid a false reading because of angularplacement of any tab hole. The cap 20 is fashioned with a plurality ofguide bearing holes 22, one for each of the probe rod ends 14. The rodends 14 are equipped with a head 24 and thus the end 14 may dropdownwardly through a guide bearing hole 22 and establish a maximumadvance position for the end 14.

The carriage 10 has a series of guide bearing holes 26 which are eachaligned with a similar guide bearing hole 22 of cap 20. The switch end16 has a head 28 which is seated in contact with the head 24 of tabsensing end 14, and the body portion extends from the head into theguide bearing hole 26. A spring 30 encompasses the stem of the switchend 16 and presses between the wall of cavity 18 and the head 28 to urgeboth the tab sensing end 14 and the switch end 16 into a normal restposition against cap 20 as illustrated in the FIGURE 2.

The combination of the aligned holes 22 and 26 provides a mounting meanswhich supports each of the probe rods on the carriage for movementrelative to the carriage along a retract path to an actuated position.This actuation takes place by contact of the end 14 against a tab wherethere is no opening into which the tapered end may drop.

The printing machine disclosed in US. Patent- No. 2,359,857 is a machinefor accepting a series of tabbed address plates, and passing theseplates through a plate holder means for establishing each plate and thetabs thereon in a sensing plane and thereafter passing the plate to aprint position wherein an impression is made only upon actuation of animpression device. The impression device is a head structure whichcauses a ribbon to press against the plate and any paper or othermaterial which may be placed therebetween to be imprinted.

This invention deals with the improvement of electrical sensing meansfor coacting with these plates in establishment of controlled circuitryfor the machine. The carriage 10, therefore, with its driving device, isdimensioned to bridge the tab area of an address plate to be sensed, andthe driving mechanism moves the carriage along an established pathbetween the sensing plane wherein the plates are passed through themachine and some retracted position away from the plate to allow thenext plate to come into place. Although this movement is generally arectilinear movement, it does not necessarily need to be rectilinear.

As the carriage 10 moves toward the sensing plane, and moves into theposition of contact, if the end 14 of any particular rod meets anobstruction, such as a tab without a hole to receive the end 14, arelative movement takes place. Actually the probe comes to a stop uponcontact and the carriage continues to move. Nevertheless, the effect isthat of the probe moving up into the carriage against the force of thespring 30. Such relative movement causes the switch end 16 to projectbeyond the top surface of the carriage block 10.

A switch block 32, which is a longitudinal rectilinear constructionsimilar to the general form and length of the carriage 10, is held insuperposed relationship upon the carriage 10 by means of clamp bolts 33positioned at both ends of the assembly.

Block 32 has a plurality of vertically extending, through opening, wirecavities 34 along the length thereof. For each switch end 16 of theprobe rods, there is provided two closely adjacent cavities 34 with adividing wall therebetween. The cavities 34 are large enough to receivean insulated conductor. The bottom portion of the cavities 34 narrowsinto a closely restricted blade passage 36. Each conductor wire 37 isunited to a resilient switch strip 38, and the strip 38 passes from thelarger top portion of the cavity 34 through the blade passage 36 andinto a space 39 which is created by the physical form of the block 32.The projecting pair of resilient strips 38 that result from the adjacentspacing of the cavities 34, produces a contact means which is alignedwith the switch end 16 for actuation by movement of the probe rod. Inthe preferred embodiment illustrated, the end 16 is a conductor and willclose the nonconductive gap between the two adjacent strips 38 when theend 16 projects into the space between the strips. The FIGURE 2illustrates two such strips 38, which is the usual number that isserviceable for most applications. Any number may be used to form aswitch cluster.

In operation, when sensing the rapidly moving group of printing devices,it is quite possible that any one probe will be actuated hundreds oftimes in each hour of the day. Hence, it is essential for service-freeoperation that the switching device continues for long periods of timeof high speed operation, but providing good electrical contact. Theillustrated embodiment of the invention carries out this object of theinvention with complete success.

The resilient strips 38 are held tightly in the blade passages 36 bymeans of two pips 40 which are raised from the face of the blade. Thepips 40 cause the blades to jam into the passage 36 and provide aclamping action to establish the working position of the strip 38.Installation is achieved by grasping the ends of the strips 38 andpulling the pips 40 into the restricted blade passage 36. In thismechanically locked position, the resilient strips 38 project into thecavity 39 in cantilever fashion. The projecting portion of each strip isa high ratio of length with respect to the amount of lateral fiexurerequired to accommodate the switch end 16, and therefore the degree ofwork hardening and fatigue is kept to such infinitesimally smallproportions that fatigue failure is virtually eliminated.

Miniaturized construction usually is costly because of high precisionrequirements. This invention embodies, as a subcombination, theprovision of a reduced section 42 which is smaller than the bearing hole26. As the rod 12 is forced into the carriage, the section 42 entersbearing hole 26 and reduces the stability of the guide control overswitch end 16. The switch end 16 is enabled to rock with respect to thelongitudinal axis of bearing hole 26. As the end 16 enters a switchcluster, it will therefore accommodate to the switch cluster, and avoidan increase in bearing friction with hole 26. By this construction, theend 16 is guided to the switch cluster, and thereafter graduallyreleased to accommodate to the external forces imposed thereon.

Another advantage and feature of this invention has been discovered tobe the wiping action which takes place between the tapered end 16 andthe internal surfaces of the resilient strips 38 as the end 16 entersinto the contact area. Oxidation and dust accumulation will alone causecontacts to lose conductivity, particularly at low operating voltagesand currents, and therefore clean contacts for instantaneousconductivity are essential in an operation such as the rapid sensing oftab positions. Therefore, although it is possible to press two contactstogether and achieve a circuit establishment, this invention producesthe aforementioned wiping action for superior assurance of contact evenafter a holiday closedown of operation of the machine, or the occasionaluse of those tab classifications seldom employed.

FIGURE 3 illustrates the physical limitation of space in which theswitch device may operate. FIGURE 3 is the end portion of a printingplate 44 having a plurality of removable tabs 46. One ta-b can indicatefrom one to five different primary classifications depending upon thenumber and position of the holes. The absence of a hole indicates thecIasSifificatiOnThus a tab to represent five different classificationswould be a plain, full-faced tab without any holes. A tab to indicateone classification would have holes in the four remaining positions. Theillustration is of three possible hole combinations and the usualpractice is to provide twelve tabs with each tab having five possibleclassifications, thus giving a total of 60 possible classifications.

The tabs are removably installed into the plate by means of a stem 48projecting into a socket created by spaced cross bars 50 punched fromthe surface of the plate. Retainer lock tongue 52 prevents the tab fromfalling out of the socket created by bars 50. However, manufacturingtolerance will permit a few thousandths of an inch variation in tabposition and, therefore, the guide bearing holes 22 are not extremelytight in order to allow a slight swivel action of end 14, and the taperend formation will accommodate variation in hole position.

The requirement of compact construction will lead to structure notsuitable for rapid and repeated actuation unless the principles of thisdiscovery are carefully incorporated. Each tab has a dimension A ofapproximately .250 inch, and a dimension B which varies between .330 and.340 inch. The tab is longer than dimension B but the available portionis indicated by dimension B.

The small area of tab face is divided into five aliquot parts to accepta through opening of .089 inch diameter in each part with sufiicientmaterial surrounding the hole available to prevent collapse of the tab.This extremely limited amount of space is successfully sensed by anonfailing switch device provided by the concepts of this invention.

Whereas the present invention has been shown and described herein inwhat is conceived to be the best mode contemplated, it is recognizedthat departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the inventionwhich is, therefore, not to be limited to the details disclosed herein,but is to be afforded the full scope of the invention as hereinafterclaimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A printing machine for impressing information from selected ones of aplurality of fiat plate embossed printing members upon businessinstruments, said machine having a sensing station and a printingstation with a printing device guideway along which said printingmembers each equipped with control devices, may be advanced one-byone tosaid sensing station and printing station in succession, the controldevices being a plurality of surface irregularities in an arbitrarypattern confined within a finite area of predetermined size, wherein theimprovement comprises:

a body frame carriage, a plurality of probe rods mounted on said bodyframe in a parallel relationship and within a space area correspondingin cross section to said finite area of said control devices;

mounting means supporting each said probe rod on said carriage formovement of the rod along its longitudinal axis, each rod having asensing end projecting from said carriage and a switch end;

said printing member control device supported in a plane in said sensingstation;

said body frame having a path of movement between a sensing position atsaid sensing station wherein said rod sensing ends have a normalcondition projecting to a plane bearing a fixed parallel relationship tosaid plane of the control means, and a withdrawal position,

whereby, said probe rods may be caused to move with respect to saidcarriage and to one another by obstructing the advancement thereof withsaid control device surface irregularities as the body frame is moved tosaid sensing position, and

switch means aligned with each probe rod for actuation by said switchend upon said relative movement.

2. The improvement in printing machine as defined in claim 1, furthercharacteried in that:

said control devices are tabs carried on printing plates, each ta-bhaving the area thereof divided into aliquot parts, and each part beingopened or closed to provide a combination of open and closed parts in acode array;

said probe rods carried in clusters, the number of rods in a clustercorresponding to the number of aliquot parts of a tab, and

a plurality of switch contacts carried by said body, said switchcontacts carried in clusters, the number of switches in a clustercorresponding to the number of aliquot parts of a tab, said switchespositioned in an array corresponding to the parts of said tab and eachswitch having two separate blades defining a socket into which saidprobe rod switch end may project upon relative movement of the carriageand rod.

3. An electrical switch comprising:

a carriage body having a forward end movable toward and away from atarget area along given path;

a probe projecting from said forward end, said carriage 'body having abearing hole in which the probe resides and is thus mounted, said probehaving a full hearing surface positioned in said bearing hole in anonretracted condition, and a reduced section positioned in said bearinghole in a retracted relative position;

a plurality of cantilever strips mounted around an extension of the axisof said bearing hole and jointly defining a switch cluster socketopening toward said probe;

said switch cluster socket positioned for activation by said probe in aretracted probe position, conductors from said socket to an associatedcircuit, said conductors and socket substantially confined to an arearepresenting an extension of said probe and its mounting means;

whereby, said probe may rock in said bearing hole to accommodate to thelateral forces imposed by said switch cluster.

4. A selector switch device as defined in claim 1, further characterizedin that:

the contact means comprises a block of insulating material with at leasttwo parallel spaced through switch blade passages;

a resilient switch strip for each opening, each strip having two pipsraised from the face of the strip and physically wedged into saidopening to anchor the strip, each strip having an extension projectingfrom the block;

said probe rod aligned to move into the space between the two stripprojections, and dimensioned to force the projections apart, spacing ofsaid strip projections related to the said rod dimension such that theprojecting portion of each strip is a high ratio of length with respectto the amount of lateral fiexure required to accommodate the probe rod.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,191,926 2/ 1940 Lemire.2,825,773 3/1958 Avdeenko 200-46 2,924,678 2/ 1960 Hickok 200-461,930,799 10/1933 Gollwitzer 10l58 2,570,112 10/1951 Gollwitze-r 10158ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Primary Examiner.

H. BURKS, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 101-58; 200-163

